Racecards
17:05 Epsom Downs
Vodafone Handicap
- 20 Runners
- Distance: 1m 4f 10y
- Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
- Surface: Turf
- Form 113210-
- Age 4
- Weight 9-7
- Official Rating 99
- Trainer Mrs A J Perrett
- Jockey Johnny Murtagh
tracked leaders, every chance 2f out, weakened over 1f out
- Form 2730-32
- Age 5
- Weight 9-4
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer P R Chamings
- Jockey J Quinn
prominent, ridden to chase leaders over 3f out, no further headway and weakened 2f out
- Form 6103-21
- Age 5
- Weight 9-3
- Official Rating 95
- Trainer D R C Elsworth
- Jockey J F Egan
held up in touch, outpaced and lost place 3f out, headway 2f out, stayed on to take 2nd inside final furlong, not troubled winner
- Form 850315
- Age 6
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer S Gollings
- Jockey D Holland
took keen hold, led after 1f, headed over 2f out, weakened quickly soon after
- Form 16240-4
- Age 5
- Weight 9-2
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer J A Geake
- Jockey Dane O'Neill
started slowly, soon prominent, lost place over 4f out, never dangerous afterwards
- Form 60024-8
- Age 6
- Weight 9-1
- Official Rating 93
- Trainer Mrs A J Perrett
- Jockey Mick Kinane
started slowly, stayed on under pressure from rear final 2 furlongs, never dangerous
- Form 2223-02
- Age 6
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer B R Millman
- Jockey A Munro
held up behind, ridden 3f out, headway over 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, no extra and lost 2nd inside final furlong
Mocca (IRE)
14- Form 2635-24
- Age 4
- Weight 9-0
- Official Rating 92
- Trainer D J Coakley
- Jockey L Dettori
towards rear, headway over 2f out, kept on not reached leaders
- Form 5210-86
- Age 4
- Weight 8-13
- Official Rating 91
- Trainer J L Dunlop
- Jockey J Fortune
held up, headway to lead over 2f out, soon ridden and headed over 1f out, one pace afterwards
- Form 66-0653
- Age 6
- Weight 8-10
- Official Rating 88
- Trainer J & S Quinn
- Jockey Kieren Fallon
held up in touch, steady headway to lead over 1f out, ridden clear final furlong comfortably
- Form 42200-8
- Age 7
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey R L Moore
mid-division, no progress and weakened well over 2f out
- Form 45020-5
- Age 5
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer M A Jarvis
- Jockey M Dwyer
towards rear, headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, never reached leaders
- Form 21138-1
- Age 5
- Weight 8-9
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer R J Hodges
- Jockey S Hitchcott
mid-division, ridden 3f out, no headway, one pace
- Form 020-779
- Age 6
- Weight 8-8
- Official Rating 86
prominent, ridden over 4f out, weakened quickly 3f out
- Form 64539-2
- Age 6
- Weight 8-7
- Official Rating 85
- Trainer J A R Toller
- Jockey Lisa Jones
held up towards rear, badly hampered on rails over 8f out, not recover
- Form 1250-00
- Age 9
- Weight 8-6
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey R Brisland
mid-division, lost place and behind from halfway
- Form 5512-52
- Age 7
- Weight 8-4
- Official Rating 82
- Trainer W S Kittow
- Jockey F Norton
held up behind ridden over 3f out, kept on final 2 furlongs but not troubled leaders
- Form 12832-3
- Age 4
- Weight 8-3
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer M H Tompkins
- Jockey C Catlin
led 1f, tracked leader afterwards, lost place 4f out, soon weakened
- Form 65-4170
- Age 6
- Weight 8-3
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer G A Butler
- Jockey Adrian Nicholls
towards rear, struggling from halfway, never dangerous
- Form 955667
- Age 4
- Weight 8-3
- Official Rating 81
- Trainer M R Channon
- Jockey E Creighton
behind, edged left over 8f out and bumped rival, stayed in touch until weakened over 2f out
In depth
Verdict
Balkan Knight has more to do off a 7lb higher mark than when scoring at Salisbury on a softer surface last time and on today's fast ground he looks worth taking on, with preference for Mocca who gets the vote ahead of Midas Way. The last mentioned has run to a similar level of form in two starts this term but the handicapper has taken note raising him 5lbs for those efforts and the son of Halling now seems to be plenty high enough in the weights. Top weight Tungsten Strike may need this on his reappearance, while stablemate Pagan Dance needs to improve considerably on the evidence of his first start of the season. Ebor runner-up Gold Ring would probably want a softer surface, while King's Thought has yet to prove his effectiveness over today's trip and of more interest may be John Dunlop's Camrose, who is capable but inconsistent. Sergeant Cecil and Sand And Stars should run their usual good races but may have to settle for a minor role behind Mocca, who gets the vote. The selection showed progressive form last season and looked to have improved again this term with two fine efforts in defeat at Newmarket and Haydock. The booking of Frankie Dettori takes the eye and the daughter of Sri Pekan is taken to provide her small stable with a big race win.
Formwatch
Tungsten Strike (USA) 14-1 (8-1) Mid-division and keen, ridden well over 4f out, weakened over 3f out, 28th of 34, well behind Contact Dancer (8-2) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (B1) sft in Oct.
Midas Way 13-2 (8-10) Held up, headway over 3f out, led over 2f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Compton Bolter (8-10) at Newmarket 1m 4f stk (2) gs in May.
Balkan Knight 2-1fav (9-12) Prominent, led over 2f out to well over 1f out, rallied to lead again inside final furlong, all out, won at Salisbury 1m 6f hcp (4) gs in May beating Dundry (8-10) by a nk, 12 ran.
King's Thought 7-2fav (8-13) Soon led, hung right over 7f out, ridden over 2f out, headed 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 13, 3 1/2l behind Tiger Tiger (8-7) at Chester 1m 2f hcp (2) gs in May.
Gold Ring 16-1 (9-4) Led 1f, tracked clear leader, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace, no impression, 4th of 14, 8l behind Cruise Director (8-5) at York 1m 4f hcp (3) sft in May.
Pagan Dance (IRE) 9-1 (9-2) Always towards rear, 8th of 14, 17l behind Cruise Director (8-5) at York 1m 4f hcp (3) sft in May.
Sergeant Cecil 8-1 (9-0) Held up in rear, headway when not clear run 2f out, stayed on final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 10, 3l behind Flamboyant Lad (8-12) at Newbury 1m 4f hcp (2) frm in May.
Mocca (IRE) 8-1 (8-11) Held up and keen, headway to chase leaders over 3f out, soon ridden, stayed on final furlong, 4th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Autumn Wealth (8-11) at Haydock 1m 4f lst fll stk (1) gf in May.
Camrose 9-1 (9-1) Held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, soon one pace, 6th of 13, 8l behind High Action (8-8) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in May.
Crow Wood 8-1 (8-8) Mid-division, headway 2f out, ridden and effort over 1f out, kept on under pressure final furlong, 3rd of 16, 1l behind Blue Monday (9-0) at Redcar 1m 2f hcp 0-105 (2) gf in May.
Nawamees (IRE) 12-1 (8-5) Chased leaders, ridden and close up over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 10, 7l behind Howle Hill (9-6) at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp (C1) pol in Jan.
Millville 11-2 (8-12) Took keen hold in mid-division, shaken up over 2f out, never reached challenging position, 5th of 13, 10l behind Tender Falcon (8-7) at Epsom 1m 4f hcp (3) gs in Apr.
Tender Falcon 20-1 (8-7) Tracked leaders, driven to challenge over 1f out, pressed leader final furlong, pushed into lead last stride, won at Epsom 1m 4f hcp (3) gs in Apr beating Balkan Knight (8-8) by a shd, 13 ran.
Turbo (IRE) 33-1 (9-5) Tracked leader, ridden, led over 2f out, edged left, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 9th of 13, 8l behind Solo Flight (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp (3) gf in May.
Pagan Sky (IRE) 16-1 (8-6) Slowly into stride, headway over 3f out, kept on under pressure to go 2nd well inside final furlong, 2nd of 12, 2l behind Zero Tolerance (9-3) at York 1m 2f hcp (2) sft in May.
Wait For The Will (USA) 25-1 (8-9) Always behind, eased final 3f, last of 13, 47l behind High Action (8-8) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in May.
Skylarker (USA) 8-1 (8-5) Tracked leader, led 3f out, ridden over 1f out, driven and headed final stride, 2nd of 13, hd behind Vaughan (9-4) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (3) gf in May.
Sand And Stars (IRE) 16-1 (8-10) In touch, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace, 3rd of 13, 6l behind Vaughan (9-4) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (3) gf in May.
Compton Drake 11-1 (9-11) Never better than mid-division, 11th of 18, 7l behind Another Bottle (9-13) at Ripon 1m 2f hcp (4) gf in May.
Top Seed (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) Held up, switched right, headway over 1f out, kept on one pace, 7th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Solo Flight (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2f hcp (3) gf in May.